Emil gumbinner



(No Model.)

E. GUMBINNER.

PLAGKET CLOSER.

No. 546,924. Patented Sept. 24, 1895.

ANDREWJLSRAHM4 PHUTO-LIYPQO. WASHINGTUN D C llNiTnn STATES PATENT Ormes.

EMIL GUMBINNER, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

PLACKET-CLOSER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 546,924, datedSeptember 24, 1895.

Serial No. 556,612. (No model.)

.To @ZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that l, EMIL GUMBINNER, a citizen of the United States,residing at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York,have invented new and useful Improvements in Automatic Placket-Closers,of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to placket-closers for ladiesA dress-skirts, mypurpose being to provide a device of this kind which shall be eX-tremely simple and economical in construction, automatic in operation,and capable of yielding elastically to conform substantially to the formor position of the parts to which it is attached. It is my purpose alsoto so unite the elastic members of the placket-closer that they shalllie one upon the other when closed and to combine them With aclosing-spring in such manner that there shall be no points,projections, or sharp edges to catch, tear, or wear away the dress orany part of the clothing with which the device may have contact.

The invention consists, to these ends, in the novel features ofconstruction and new combinations of parts fully explained hereinafter,and then particularly pointed out and defined in the claims.

To enable others to fully understand and to practice my said invention,I will now describe the same in detail, reference being made for thispurpose to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a view inelevation, showingthe placket-closer in closed position. Fig. 2 is asimilar view showing the parts opened far enough to show theconstruction at the pivotally-connected ends.

The reference-numeral l in said drawings indicates each of the membersof the placketcloser, consisting of a thin narrow strip of a suitablemetal, or suitable non-metallic material-such as horn, ivory, celluloid,bone, whalebone, Wood, or other substance. These strips are quite thinto render them suitably elastic and are provided at proper intervalswith small perforations 2 to enable them to be stitched to the garment.

Close to one end the strips l are connected together by a pivot 3,having its end slightly projecting from the dat face of one of saidstrips to form an attachment for one end of a narrow coiled spring 4,which surrounds the projecting end of the pivot. The other end of saidspring is secured to a small stud 5, rigidly mounted between the pivot 2and the neighboring end of the strip, which turns loosely upon saidpivot, the latter being rigidly connected to the other strip. The stud 5is placed near the edge of the strip and projects through and veryslightly beyond its other face, this projecting end serving as a stopfor the arms when they fully coincide. A notch 6, cut in the edge of thestrip, which is rigid with the pivot 2, provides an opening which isentered by the projecting end of the stud 5.

The parts composing the placket-closer are of course rounded at theirends and edges to remove all sharp angles or points which might causeinjury to the clothing.

The small spiral spring 4 exerts a force which is amply sufficient toclose the two members of the device and hold them closed.

-It presents no projecting points or angles which can wear or injure thedress or the clothing.

The entire device is of light weight, highly elastic, andas the partslie one upon the other they are practicallyinvisible. They can yield toconform to the various positions and form of the part to which they areattached, and, when formed of metal, they may be either plated withnickel or other suitable metal to prevent oxidation and avoid ruststains upon the clothing. They may also be japanned or otherwise treatedfor the same purpose.

The device may be used without any material change for similar generalpurposes, such as aglove-fastener, and for all analogous uses. Forexample, it. may be used as a safeguard to prevent the picking ofpockets in ladies skirts.

The apertures in the strips, by which they are stitched to the garment,may be arranged as desired; but I prefer to use three pairs of suchapertures, which should be eyeletefl to prevent the edges of the stripsfrom wearing or cutting the thread. l do not, however, limit myinvention to the presence of either of these features, although Iconsider them desirable.

The parts composing the placket-closer may, if desired, be covered orsheathed by any suitable fabric or flexible material, to accommo- ICOdate those who may prefer to sew them on top of the skirt instead ofinside.

I-Ieretofore and previous to my invention spring-actuated devices havebeen proposed for glove-fasteners and analogous uses in which the twomembers are formed of wire, which is twisted or bent into a coil orspiral at the connected ends of the said members. This spring isintegral with the other parts and forms the only connection betweenthem, no pivot-pin being used.- Aplacket-closer has also been proposedhaving two arms or strips pivotally connected at one end, but withoutany actuating-spring. Such constructions I make no claim to.

What I claim is#- 1. A placket closer consisting of two elastic stripsmounted one loosely and the other` rigidly upon a pivot-pin, a springfastened by one end to the projecting portion of the said pivot andcoiled around the same, its other end being secured to a stud on theloosely mounted strip, said stud projecting through and beyond the otherside of said strip to serve as a stop to limit the closing movement,substantially as described.

2. In a placket-closer, the combination with two elastic strips oneloosely and the other rigidly mounted upon a pivot-pin alittle abovevtheir lower ends, of a spiral spring coiled around a prolongation ofsaid pin to which one end of said spring is attached, its other endbeing secured to a stud on the loosely mounted strip, which passesthrough the lat ter below the pivot-pin and upon one side of the centralline of the strip its projecting end being adapted to lie in a notch cutin the edge of the rigidly mounted strip, to serve as a stop,substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence ot' twosubscribing witnesses.

EMIL GUMBINNER.

Witnesses:

SAML. KING LEVI, LEW GUMBINNER.

